How to Grow a Jade Plant (Portulacaria afra)? These Care Tips You Need to Know
The jade plant (Portulacaria afra) sounds wealthy just from its name, so many people like to grow it at home for good luck and good fortune. But to grow it well, you first need to understand its growth habits. Let's take a look at how to grow a jade plant. Let's find out together.
1. Soil Requirements
Choose soil with good drainage as the growing medium. Water must not accumulate in the soil for long periods, otherwise it can easily cause root rot in the jade plant. Fertile soil is also good, and you can add some humus to the soil. The flower pot should also be breathable, so as to create a pot-soil environment suitable for its growth.
2. Light
The jade plant prefers an environment with plenty of light, but that does not mean it likes being scorched by the sun. So in summer, when temperatures are high and the light is intense, it should not be placed in direct sunlight. At this time, appropriate shading is needed, and it can be placed in the sun in the morning and afternoon when the sunlight is not so strong. In winter, the light is not intense, so place it in the sun as much as possible and let it fully absorb sunlight.
3. Watering and Fertilizing
The jade plant is not tolerant of waterlogging, so when watering, be careful not to let water accumulate in the pot soil. Pay attention to the soil's permeability and drainage. If the soil is not dry, there is no need to water; once you do water, water thoroughly. The jade plant usually does not need fertilizing. During the spring and autumn growing seasons, apply a liquid fertilizer mainly based on nitrogen every two weeks. Be sure to pay attention to the concentration: rather dilute than concentrated. When the leaves are in poor condition, you can also spray the leaf surface weekly with a mixture of 0.1%~0.2% monopotassium phosphate and 0.1% urea, or add a liquid fertilizer containing potassium.
4. Points to Note
The jade plant has strong sprouting ability. To avoid excessive branches and leaves affecting permeability, its branches need to be pruned regularly. Pruning can be done by shaping and wiring according to the desired form, paying attention to keeping it well-spaced and avoiding branches that are too dense, which would affect leaf growth. A common disease of the jade plant is anthracnose, which can be prevented and controlled by spraying with a 1500-fold dilution of 50% thiophanate-methyl wettable powder. Also watch out for root rot, which is mostly caused by overwatering. So drain and aerate in time, cut off the dead branches, leaves and roots, then let them dry in the sun before repotting.
The above is an introduction to how to grow a jade plant (Portulacaria afra). We hope it helps you. For more related knowledge, please stay tuned to us.